Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product recognizes a voice input received by an interactive voice recognition system. An unintelligible voice input is received from a caller. The unintelligible voice input is unintelligible to a computer due to background noise at a caller environment of the caller. Upon determining that the unintelligible voice input does not match any entry from a lexicon of known voice inputs, the caller is prompted to transmit a non-verbal electronic input to clarify the unintelligible voice input. This non-verbal electronic input is used to match the unintelligible voice input with a specific known voice input from the lexicon of known voice inputs, which is updated with the unintelligible voice input. The updated lexicon is subsequently used in future phone calls from the user to match the unintelligible voice input to the user-requested activity for the caller.

Abstract: A method implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code having programming instructions tangibly embodied on a computer readable storage medium. The programming instructions are operable to receive an audio stream of a communication between a plurality of participants. Additionally, the programming instructions are operable to filter the audio stream of the communication into separate audio streams, one for each of the plurality of participants, wherein each of the separate audio streams contains portions of the communication attributable to a respective participant of the plurality of participants. Furthermore, the programming instructions are operable to output the separate audio streams to a storage system.

Abstract: A method for location relevant directory assistance through a PSTN is provided. The method can include connecting a calling party with a called party through a switch in a PSTN, receiving a directory assistance request from the calling party over the PSTN, and querying a database disposed within the PSTN to retrieve caller identification for the calling party. The method can further include retrieving from over a data communications network separate from the PSTN a call address in response to the querying of the database for the calling party from the database disposed within the PSTN. Location relevant directory information can be identified from a database that is external to the PSTN based upon the retrieved call address. Subsequently, the directory assistance request can be responded to using the identified location relevant directory information.

Abstract: A method implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code having programming instructions tangibly embodied on a computer readable storage medium. The programming instructions are operable to receive an audio stream of a communication between a plurality of participants. Additionally, the programming instructions are operable to filter the audio stream of the communication into separate audio streams, one for each of the plurality of participants, wherein each of the separate audio streams contains portions of the communication attributable to a respective participant of the plurality of participants. Furthermore, the programming instructions are operable to output the separate audio streams to a storage system.

Abstract: A call directing system receives an incoming call from a caller. The caller is prompted to speak, thus enabling a prosody analyzer to generate an analysis of a prosody of the caller's voice. This analysis provides a basis for generating a caller profile that describes caller preferences of the caller. Based on the analysis of the prosody of the caller's voice and the generated caller profile, the call is directed to a particular call recipient.

Abstract: Speech recognition processing captures phonemes of words in a spoken speech string and retrieves text of words corresponding to particular combinations of phonemes from a phoneme dictionary. A text-to-speech synthesizer then can produce and substitute a synthesized pronunciation of that word in the speech string. If the speech recognition processing fails to recognize a particular combination of phonemes of a word, as spoken, as may occur when a word is spoken with an accent or when the speaker has a speech impediment, the speaker is prompted to clarify the word by entry, as text, from a keyboard or the like for storage in the phoneme dictionary such that a synthesized pronunciation of the word can be played out when the initially unrecognized spoken word is again encountered in a speech string to improve intelligibility, particularly for conference calls.

Abstract: An approach for an automatic table cleanup process of use, implemented in relational databases, are provided. A method includes setting up a table cleanup process in a database which is operable to perform an automatic table cleanup on a table within the database using an auto purge value associated with the table. The method further includes altering the table with a virtual column to keep track of dates on the table. The method further includes turning on an automatic table maintenance capability of the database to include and initiate the table cleanup process. The method further includes running the table cleanup process to perform the automatic table cleanup using dates which are automatically filled in during an insert or update operation on the table, the table cleanup process comprising looking through the records and automatically purging the table when the auto purge value has been met.

Abstract: A computer places in a call queue a call having caller identification information. The computer creates a database record that includes the caller identification information of the call placed in the call queue and an aggregate call queue duration value representing the aggregate time that one or more calls having the caller identification information have been in the call queue. The computer calculates a call queue duration for the call, and adds the calculated call queue duration for the call to the aggregate call queue duration value of the database record associated with the caller identification information of the call. If the aggregate call queue duration value exceeds a predetermined value, the computer provides special treatment to the call.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to interactive voice response (IVR) system session management and provide a method, system and computer program product for call interruption handling in an IVR data processing system. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for call interruption handling in an IVR data processing system can include detecting a call interruption of a telephone call between a caller and an IVR system during an established IVR session for the caller. The method also can include saving state information for the established IVR session in connection with the caller in response to detecting the call interruption.

Abstract: A beacon signal including image information and an application to cause acknowledgment of receipt of the beacon signal is transmitted in order to measure approximate latency in transmission over a communication link that exhibits latency such as a packet switched digital network. Transmission latency for image information for an image included in a web conference is then estimated and elapsed time after transmission of such image information is measured and an indication provided to a presenter or conference monitor when the image should be visible to a conference participant which can be easily selected by the presenter.

Abstract: A method and system for determining and communicating biometrics of a recorded speaker in a voice transcription process. An interactive voice response system receives a request from a user for a transcription of a voice file. A profile associated with the requesting user is obtained, wherein the profile comprises biometric parameters and preferences defined by the user. The requested voice file is analyzed for biometric elements according to the parameters specified in the user's profile. Responsive to detecting biometric elements in the voice file that conform to the parameters specified in the user's profile, a transcription output of the voice file is modified according to the preferences specified in the user's profile for the detected biometric elements to form a modified transcription output file. The modified transcription output file may then be provided to the requesting user.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method, and program product to deliver an announcement to people, such as a public announcement. A computer receives input representative of audio from one or more people speaking in one or more natural languages. The computer processes the input to identify the languages being spoken, and identifies a relative proportion of each of the identified languages. Using these proportions, the computer determines one or more languages in which to deliver the announcement. The computer then causes to be delivered the announcement in the determined languages. In other embodiments, the computer can also determine an order in which to deliver the announcement. Further, the computer can transmit the announcement in the determined languages and order for delivery in aural or visual form.

Abstract: A security method and system. The method includes receiving by a computing system, a telephone call from a user. The computing system comprises an existing password/passphrase and a pre-recorded voice sample associated with the user. The computing system prompts the user to enter a password/passphrase using speech. The computing system receives speech data comprising a first password/passphrase from the user. The computing system converts the speech data to text data. The computing system first compares the text data to the first password/passphrase and determines a match. The computing system compares the speech data to the pre-recorded voice sample to determine a result indicating whether a frequency spectrum associated with the speech data matches a frequency spectrum associated with the pre-recorded voice sample. The computing system transmits the result to the user.

Abstract: A method, a system and a computer program product for determining one or more characteristics of a caller, utilizing the biometric characteristics of the caller. One or more biometric characteristics are detected when a request to place an outgoing call to one or more destinations is received at a first telecommunication device. When the request to place an outgoing call is a verbal request, one or more biometric voice samples are obtained. The biometric voice samples comprise the biometric characteristics of the caller. The biometric characteristics are extracted from the biometric voice samples, encoded into a datagram, and transmitted from the first telecommunication device to the outgoing call destination (i.e. a second telecommunication device). When the biometric characteristics are analyzed at the second telecommunication device, a display is generated depicting the mood, gender, age, urgency or other characteristics of the caller associated with the incoming call.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system and/or program product update voice prints over time. A receiving computer receives an initial voice print. A determining period of time is calculated for that initial voice print. This determining period of time is a length of time during which an expected degree of change in subsequent voice prints, in comparison to the initial voice print, is predicted to occur. A new voice print is received after the determining period of time has passed, and the new voice print is compared with the initial voice print. In response to a change to the new voice print falling within the expected degree of change in comparison to the initial voice print, a voice print store is updated with the new voice print.

Abstract: An apparatus, a method and a computer program product for seamless transition between WiFi networks (including in particular WiFi Internet networks) includes within a mobile communication apparatus a mobility layer that is tunneled to a mobility server within a network infrastructure. The mobile communications apparatus includes a wireless network capability, a global positioning system capability, an internal network protocol address and a routing capability. The apparatus, the method and the computer program product also provide that the mobility layer is programmed to sequentially and automatically tunnel to the mobility server at an available geographically defined WiFi network access location predicated upon a global positioning system determined position of the mobile communication apparatus. Embodiments also provide seamless transitions between WiFi networks and cellular networks.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to interactive voice response (IVR) system session management and provide a method, system and computer program product for call interruption handling in an IVR data processing system. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for call interruption handling in an IVR data processing system can include detecting a call interruption of a telephone call between a caller and an IVR system during an established IVR session for the caller. The method also can include saving state information for the established IVR session in connection with the caller in response to detecting the call interruption. The method further can include determining a call back number for the caller and initiating a call back of the caller from the IVR system using the call back number of the caller thereby re-establishing an IVR session for the caller.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for automatic call completion in a directory assistance system in concert with the public switched telephone network (PSTN). In accordance with the present invention, a method for automatic call completion in a directory assistance system can include receiving and processing a directory assistance request from a calling party over the PSTN. An address for the calling party can be retrieved from the PSTN and an address for a telephone number produced by the directory assistance request can be second retrieved from within the directory assistance system. Prospective telephone charges can be computed based upon the retrieved addresses and the calling party can be prompted with the computed prospective charges. Finally, a call can be automatically completed between the calling party and the telephone number.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system, and computer program product for recognizing a voice input to an interactive voice recognition system is presented. An initial caller voice input is received from a caller. In response to determining that the initial caller voice input is a computer-unintelligible voice input that does not match any entry from a lexicon of known voice inputs, the caller is prompted to transmit a secondary input to clarify the computer-unintelligible voice input. The secondary input is utilized to match the computer-unintelligible voice input with a specific known voice input from the lexicon of known voice inputs. The lexicon of known voice inputs is then updated with the computer-unintelligible voice input.

Abstract: A method and system for determining and communicating biometrics of a recorded speaker in a voice transcription process. An interactive voice response system receives a request from a user for a transcription of a voice file. A profile associated with the requesting user is obtained, wherein the profile comprises biometric parameters and preferences defined by the user. The requested voice file is analyzed for biometric elements according to the parameters specified in the user's profile. Responsive to detecting biometric elements in the voice file that conform to the parameters specified in the user's profile, a transcription output of the voice file is modified according to the preferences specified in the user's profile for the detected biometric elements to form a modified transcription output file. The modified transcription output file may then be provided to the requesting user.